Labour Figure Reeves Signals Shift Towards EU Rejoining
Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves aligns with the party's growing push to reverse Brexit, suggesting a youth mobility scheme could be a first step.
Rachel Reeves has aligned herself with a faction within the Labour party advocating for a return to the European Union, stating that the UK's "future lies in the European Union." Her intervention comes as Andy Burnham, a prominent Labour figure, has reignited the debate about the UK's relationship with the EU. Reeves, who previously served as Chancellor, described Brexit as having made the UK "poorer, weaker and less secure."
Reeves welcomed Burnham's "leadership" in reopening the discussion, adding in a statement that "No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were." She believes that "Britain's future lies in the European Union" but emphasized the need for proponents of re-entry to articulate the tangible benefits and ensure the correct steps are taken. As a preliminary measure, she hopes for confirmation of an "ambitious youth mobility scheme" and progress towards joining the "SAFE defence partnership" at an upcoming UK-EU summit.
Burnham is expected to meet with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on November 20 to finalize new terms. Reports suggest that approximately 80,000 young Europeans may be permitted to work in the UK under a new youth mobility deal, a development critics have likened to a return of 'free movement.' This push for a renewed relationship with the EU has caused internal divisions within the Labour party, with some ministers expressing skepticism.
Chancellor John Healey, representing a constituency that voted heavily to leave the EU, has publicly downplayed the likelihood of the UK rejoining the bloc, stating he does not anticipate Britain returning in his lifetime and casting doubt on the reinstatement of free movement. The Prime Minister's call for an "honest discussion" about a potential return to freedom of movement has intensified internal party discussions. Confusion arose when Burnham's stance on allowing the UK to reinstate EU freedom of movement without a referendum appeared to shift, prompting clarification from Downing Street that he was not set on a particular course of action. Burnham had previously warned ministers against publicly advocating for specific outcomes regarding the EU relationship, stressing the importance of government alignment and discipline in messaging.